• Author / Uploaded
• diajeng lissa

• Categories
• Idioma
• Pronombre

Citation preview

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

81

Mini-Lessons for Section 1 Idiomatic Expressions A knowledge of idioms is important for the Listening Comprehension section, especially Part A. These Mini-Lessons contain lists of some 300 expressions and their definitions as well as exercises to familiarize you with most of these expressions. Many of the expressions listed here have appeared on the Listening Comprehension sections of TOEFL exams in the past, some of them several times. Notes: 1. If a phrase contains a word in parentheses, that word is used only if the verb is followed by an noun or pronoun. f

Example: catch UP! (with) You go ahead. I'll catch up later. (no noun or pronoun) I'll catch up with you later. (pronoun)

2. The words one and someone are used to indicate that any pronoun (or sometimes a noun) can be used in this expression. Example: on one's own How long have you been on your own? Tom's been on his own for several years.

Mini-Lesson 1.1 about to almost ready to above all most importantly add up make sense; be logical all at once suddenly; without warning ! ' all of a sudden all at once; suddenly ~ a matter of fact in reality; actually as a rule generally; customarily ~ at ease not nervous; calm ~t the drop of a hat quickly; without any preparation time back out (of) withdraw an offer bank on depend on; count on be my guest do what you want; feel free; help yourself be rusty need practice or review beats me I don't know; I have no idea (often used in response to a question) 0- better off in an improved condition. \bite off more than one can chew take on more responsibility than one can handle C""' bound to certain to; sure to ~break down stop functioning (a machine, for example) ~!>reak in (on) interrupt ~reak the ice break through social barriers (as at a party) ~reak the news (to) inform; give bad news 'break up end (a meeting, for example) ~break up (with) stop being a couple (a boyfriend and girlfriend, for example) ( a breeze something very simple and easy to do

S

82

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

~. "hnng about L~bring

,

up

cause to happen

(1) raise (a child)

(2) introduce (a topic, for example) review; study; practic~ bump into meet unexpectedly; run into by and large mostly; generally; on the whole by heart by memory; learned word for word &~y no means in no way; not at all

C.:::: brush up on

cy

Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogs with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per blank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentence to be grammatically correct. The first one is done as an example. 1. "Can you talk now?" "No, I'm about to go to the grocery store, but I'll call you as soon as 1 get back." 2. "You're probably too tired to play another game of racquetball, right?" "I'm not that tired. really. game."

, I'd enjoy another

3. "Will you support my proposal at the meeting?" "Certainly. You can __ .________ my support." 4. 1 was talking to my aunt when suddenly my cousin George Ann our conversation. 5. "I understand Diane lost her job." "Yes, but she's actually ____ . She found a more interesting job with a higher salary." 6. _~ ____ , Carlos is very punctual, but he sure 'was late tonight. 7. My car _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ last week, and 1 had to take the bus to work until it was repaired. 8. I was taking a quiet walk last night when, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , there was a loud explosion. 9. Kent is fail that class if he doesn't start studying. 10. They _~________~ their children to be honest. 11. There were a Jew things I didn't like about Professor Wong's class, but _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ____ I enjoyed it. 12. "I think Matthew was cheating on that quiz." "That doesn't _____ . Why should the best student in the class cheat?" 13. "Can I have another sandwich'" "Sure. _________.... ______ . I made plenty." 14. Actors and actresses must know their lines _ _ _ _ _ _ __ IS. If you don't want to talk about this problem, why did you ____ it _ _ __ 16. Many accidents are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ by carelessness. 17. Their team won the game, but they close garne.

dominated it. It was a very

18. "What a boring party. No one is talking to one another." "Maybe we should put on some music and start dancing. That might ___ ~ ._ _ __ 19. "Have you studied Spanish before?" "Yes, but it's been years since 1 took a Spanish class, so I'll need to _ .. ___ it before I go to Venezuela." 20. "You're taking five classes this term?" "Yes. and I'm havim! trouhle getting caught up. I'm afraid 1 .. _ .________ this time."

-

..

_._-

-~---

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension '83

21. "You're all packed and ready to go, I see."

"I could leave _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 22, "Do you know what the name of this street is?"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . This is the first time I've ever been in this town."

23, "How's that biology class youre taking?" . We'..,., just been going over things I studied last semester." "So far, it's been 24. "What time did the part\ __ last night?" "I don't know. It was stU] buing on when 1 went home." 25. "I was awfully nervous when I gave that speech." "Really? You hid it well. 1 thought you were completely _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Mini..Lesson 1.2 call it a day stop working for the day; go home call off cancel call on visit cahn down relax care for (1) take care of (2) like; feel affection for catch on become popular catch on (to) understand; learn catch up (with) go as fast as; catch check in (or into) register (at a hotel) check out (00 (1) leave (a hotel) (2) take material (from a library, for example) cheer up become cheerful; be happy chip in (on/for) contribute clear up (1) clarify; make understandable (2) become nice and sunny (used to talk about the weather) conle across find; meet; encounter come around (to) begin to change one's opinion; begin to agree with come down with become sick with (an illness) come up with think of (an idea) cost an arm and a leg be very expensive count on depend on; rely on; bank on count out eliminate; no longer consider as a factor cut off stop; discontinue (a service, for example) cut out for have an aptitude for; be qualified for Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogs with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per blank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentence to be grammatically correct. 1. The reception in the garden was because of a thunderstorm. 2. Don't get so excited. Just _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and tell us what happened. 3. I was looking up some information in the almanac when 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ an interesting fact. 4. I can ____ _ _ ___ my car. It's very dependable and never breaks down. S. How did you _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ such a strange idea? 6. I arrived in town last night at seven-thirty and _._. __________ my hotel at around eight. This morning I plan to at about nine.

---- --

---

84

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

7. "Did you rent this videotape?" "No, I ~_____ it

______ the library."

8. You look tired. Why don't we____~

and finish up tomorrow?

9. It won't be too expensive to buy Professor McMillen a present if we all _ _ _ ~.. ___ 10. If Arthur doesn't pay his electric bill soon, the utilities company might_ . __ __ electricity.

his

11. "I don't understand this theorem at all." "Talk to Professor Adler. I'll bet she can ______ your confusion." 12. Who ______ _ your cat while you were out of town? 15. A good stereo system doesn't have to __________ . _________________ __ . You can find one for a reasonable price. it at all. 14. Cauliflower isn't my favorite vegetable. In fact, I don't 15. "I'm depressed. I didn't do very well on the first quiz." _ _ _ !That quiz only counted for 10% of the total grade, and I'm sure you'll do better on the other tests." 16. "How did Eric do in the cross-country ski race?" "He got off to a bad start, so he never _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the leading skiers." 17. "Why did Brenda drop out of business school?" "She decided she wasn't _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a career in business. She's going to study art instead." 18. This song wasn't very popular when it was first recorded, but now it's starting to _ _ __ 19. "Your roommate is still planning to vote for Smithson for president of the Student Council?" "Yes, but I'm going to keep talking to him. I think eventually he'll ~~ __.. _________ our point of view and vote for Brannigan." 20. That saleswoman her clients at least once a month because she thinks personal contact is important. 21. "Is it still raining?" "No, the rain has stopped and it's starting to ________

Mini-Lesson 1.3 day in and day out constantly; for a long time die down become less severe; quiet down do over do again; repeat do without not have down the drain wasted: done for no reason (work, for example) dream up invent; think of; come up with drop (someone) a line send someone a letter drop in (on) visit informally drop off (1) leave something (a package, for example) (2) take (someone) home; let someone out of a car drop out (00 stop attending (classes, for example) easy as pie very simple; a piece of cake eyes bigger than one's stomach said of someone who takes more food than he or she can eat fall behind not move as quickly as; lag behind fall through fail to happen

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

85

a far cry from not similar to; not as good as fed up (with) not able to tolerate; disgusted with; annoyed by feel free do something if one wants feel like be inclined to; want to feel like a million dollars feel very good feel up to feel able to do something; ready to few and far between uncommon and infrequent figure out understand; solve

Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogs with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per blank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentence to be grammatically correct. 1. It took me hours to _________ how to record programs on my DVD player. 2. If you could _

_ ___ the laundry on the way to work, I'll pick it up on Monday.

3. "What a wond~Tful masquerade party!" "People certainly ___ """ ______ some interesting costumes, didn't they?" 4. "Do you _____ going out tonight?" "No, I'd rather stay home and read." 5" "Why have you _ _ _ _ in your French class?" "I was sick and I missed a few classes. But I'm studying hard to catch up." 6" "Why do we need to get gas now? We have quite a bit left." "This highway goes through some very empty country, and gas stations are _" _ _ _ _ __ 7. Howard's teacher wasn't satislled with the work he had done, so she asked him to _ _ _ _ it 8. I'm _ _ _ _ _ _ ""_________ my roommate's lack of responsibility. He never pays his bills or his share of the rt'nt on time" 9. "Isn't your class picnic today?" "No, our plans for the picnic" _ _ _ _ _ _ _"_ 10" "The food at that new restaurant isn't bad." "It's all right, but ___________ "____ ""______ it's the food at Mario's. Now that is a great restaurant!" 11. Ben had to

" _ _ _ _ the university because of financial problems.

12. After blowing furiously all day, the wind fmally _ __ 13. "Do you telephone friends before you visit, or just __"___ _ ____ them?" "It depends. If they're close friends, I just visit them. If they're acquaintances, I generally call first." 14. "I'm tired of the same old routine." "I know how you feel. I get tired of doing the same things _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ too." 15. "Ralph really loaded up his tray with food." "He'll never eat it all. Ralph's _ _ _ _ are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ his _____ 16. "I need to use a computer for a few hours." ____

to use my laptop computer. I don't need it this morning."

17. "I've missed James since he moved to Seattle." "You should him _____________ "_ _ and let him know how you're doing. I'm sure he'd love to get a letter from you."

86

Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

Mini-Lesson 1.4 till in write in a hlank (on an application form, for example) nIl in (for) suhstitute for nIl one in provide missmg information f'ill out complete (an application form, for example) nnd out learn; discover a fish out of water someone not in his or her normal surroundings f'tx up repair; renovate follow in one's footsteps do what someone else did (especially a parent) for good permanently; forever for the time being temporarily; for now from out of the blue unexpectedly; without warning get a kick out of (doing something) enjoy; have fun doing something get along with have good relations with get carried away go too far; do too much; buy too much get in one's blood become a habit; hecome customary get in over one's head take on too much responsibility; bite off more than one can chew get in the way block; obstruct get in touch with contact get off leave (a vehicle) get off the ground start to he sllccessful get on board (a vehicle) get over recover from (a disease) get rid of discard; no longer have get under way begin; start give (someone) a cold shoulder act unfriendly toward someone; ignore give away distribute (for free) Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogs with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per hlank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentence to be grammatically correct. 1. "How did you ____ ~.~~_ where Warren lives?" "I just looked it up in my address book."

2. ''I'm interested in the job that was advertised in the newspaper." ________ this application form." "Fine. Just _____ 3. Don't forget to ___~_ the date on your check. -J:. "Is Agnes still mad at you?"' "I suppose so. 1 saw her at a party last weekend, and she just _._._____ me _. 5. "Are YOll moving to Baltimore "No, just __ . __ ..__

~_ ... _.. _

?"

I'll be back here in a month or two."

6. "That old paint that you have stored in your garage is a fire hazard." "You're right. 1 should_ _ ____.___ it." -, Some companies __ ... ___ consumers with them.

~. ___

free samples of new products in order to f;lmiliarize

8. "How's that advanced computer class you're taking, Polly?" "Not so good. 1 can't understand a word that the teacher or any of the students are saying. 1 really feel like ~__ _~ ___.._. . ___....... __ ..._......._._._ _._.._ _